This sentiment was supported by Pacific health workers who shared experiences of a lack of training opportunities in the workplace. When asked about training opportunities, many Pacific workers shared that they “didn’t get a chance” (S066), “never had training opportunities within a role to progress my career” (S101) or had “little to none training opportunities” (S140). Outside our three focus industries, there was again a mixed picture. One Pacific union worker shared her sentiments regarding training opportunities for Pacific peoples, saying that there was simply “no training for our Pacific people in some jobs” (S505). Workers in other sectors shared their experiences of how training opportunities could be a mixed blessing, providing an excuse for extra work. A worker from the corporate sector told us that “there were no training opportunities unless they need to give us extra work, then they use that as a development” (S324). Several people commented that workers who are receiving training are often “self-directed” (S296). They either identified that as a trait in themselves – “the workplaces I’ve been at are terrible with training but I’m proactive and will find training to develop” (S263) – or noticed it as common in others – “training opportunities are usually offered to those who are seen as proactive or are more vocal and always ask questions or have expressed interest openly over those who are keen but don’t express openly” (S349). There are barriers to accessing training Even with the training opportunities available for Pacific workers across the sectors, they still encounter barriers in being able to take up those opportunities. Some of these include negotiating time to attend training and pay during training. One Pacific worker told us that, to get the opportunity, it was “relatively easy … [but] challenging negotiating time release for this” (S737). For some Pacific workers, training opportunities were granted but at the workers’ expense, even if it was work-related. One Pacific worker told us: Only ever been offered these when I’ve asked, and sometimes I have had to pay for these myself even though they were required for my job. (S189) Another Pacific worker from the social services sector shared this experience with negotiating time and pay to attend training: 52 Being here for 10 years, I’ve become quite confident in asking for the training opportunities that I deserve. There is always some sort of snide comment made such as I hope you’re not going to leave once you complete your qualification? I had also noticed over the years other colleagues, Pākehā or management staff, would have time allocated during the week for them to complete their study, and when I would ask about my study options, I would be told to put it in as annual leave and we could negotiate how much of this would be study leave. I would need to look up the policy for study leave? (S635) As a result of a lack of consideration for paid time off to undertake training opportunities, one worker from the hospitality sector shared that “some go without training because they do not like to pay us for training” (S514). A recurring constraint shared by many Pacific workers on why there was a lack of training opportunities had to do with the budget. A Pacific worker in the financial sector told us: Budget is always the standard response to constrained training opportunities. I have usually had to build a business case to support training and development opportunities. (S231) This was also the case in the education sector, where one person said simply “no budget” (S722). Another Pacific worker observed that “opportunities for training are usually given to me when they are of little to no cost to the company” (S731). Some workers specifically identified discrimination as the barrier to their accessing training opportunities. One Pacific worker, who is currently unemployed, shared their experience with previous organisations: Training opportunities are available but may as well have been non-existent in my view. It always felt like a formality to be told about it or being told just because it’s someone’s KPI and so long as they just say the word ‘training’ to enough people they’ve met their target and job done. It was common to see all the Pākehā or people in senior roles do all the exciting training, the type that required approval for additional funding from the company. But it only takes one brown brother to be declined funding to do that same training to not bother. Oh, but you still had all the free courses that you could do, but the catch is they